Second Briton clings to life after deadly Donetsk tank battle

A former British soldier suffered life-threatening head injuries after a bloody tank battle which left one Briton dead and several others wounded.

The ex-paratrooper was hit by Russian shell fire in the same skirmish which killed Simon Lingard – the third Briton thought to have died in the Ukraine conflict.

The casualty was airlifted from the scene of the battle at Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, to a hospital in the west of the country where he is having brain surgery. However, sources told The Daily Mail that the soldier’s head injuries may prove fatal.

Security around the hospital was tight last night due to concerns Russian agents may target the Briton and other UK ex-personnel injured in the same battle in the Donetsk region.

At least ten Ukrainian volunteers, including Mr Lingard, were killed as they sought to destroy a column of Russian tanks on Monday. Mr Lingard, 38, was a heavy weapons specialist who often fired Javelin anti-tank missiles.

The father of two, from Great Harwood in Lancashire, was trained in the role by the Parachute Regiment’s 1st Battalion. He completed two tours of Afghanistan with the UK’s Special Forces Support Group before volunteering to join Ukrainian forces in March.

A former British soldier suffered life-threatening head injuries after a bloody tank battle which left one Briton dead and several others wounded. The ex-paratrooper was hit by Russian shell fire in the same skirmish which killed Simon Lingard (pictured)

The Daily Mail has obtained exclusive pictures of Mr Lingard wearing his maroon beret as a Para and, more recently, with British colleagues on the frontline in Ukraine. 

The ex-British soldiers seen with him were also involved in Monday’s fighting.

Bakhmut has seen heavy bombardments in recent weeks as Ukrainian units – bolstered by international volunteers and Western-donated weapons – have sought to push back Vladimir Putin’s forces.

Officially, there are no serving British troops operating in Ukraine but the US has said some of its troops are acting as ‘observers’ in the country.

Mickii Edwards, a friend of Mr Lingard, suggested that he had been identified by a Russian drone while crossing a field and been hit by shrapnel.

He added: ‘Si had only told me a few days beforehand how things were getting worse and worse out there, his operations were becoming more dangerous.

‘They were fighting without much cover, just a few trees and bushes here and there.’ 

Died in action: Simon Lingard in Ukraine with British colleagues on the front line

The Daily Mail has obtained exclusive pictures of Mr Lingard wearing his maroon beret as a Para and, more recently, with British colleagues on the frontline in Ukraine

Suggesting that he thought Ukrainian troops had returned to Bakhmut on Tuesday to recover Mr Lingard’s corpse, Mr Edwards added: ‘They loved him so they would not have left him there, they had to get him back.

‘Si was such a big-hearted man. He had PTSD and could get angry but he was a top, top lad. I promised him I would look after his children if anything happened to him out there.’

Mr Lingard’s family has launched a fundraising appeal ahead of his funeral, saying: ‘Could you all please find it in your heart to donate anything no matter how small so we can honour our dad and allow him to finally rest in peace.’

Mr Lingard’s death comes after Britons Scott Sibley, 36, and Jordan Gatley, 24, were killed in Ukraine earlier this year.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘We are supporting the family of a British national who has lost his life in Ukraine and we are in touch with the local authorities… our thoughts are with their family at this difficult time.’